Most parts of North India today had good rains as monsoon again picked up pace in the region bringing down the overall rain deficit in Rajasthan,Haryana and Punjab. The national capital was today lashed by rains after a gap of three days. Delhi has received heavy showers for nine days from August 20,reducing the monsoon deficit in a big way. The minimum temperature was recorded at 28 degree Celsius,two degrees above normal. The maximum was recorded at 34.9 deg C,one degree above normal and down from yesterday's 35.3 degrees,while the minimum was recorded at 28 deg C. Rajasthan recovered from drought like situation with satisfactory rains in most of the districts. The state has recorded 9.73 per cent above average rainfall with 493.54 mm rains from July 5 to September 1,when the South-West monsoon touched the state. Sikar recorded abnormal rainfall (60 per cent and above) while 10 other districts of the state received excess rainfall (20 to 59 per cent above normal),according to the state water resources department. The rainfall deficit of the state was 29.69 per cent on August 9,but as on September 1 the rainfall is 9.73 per cent above average. Only five districts - Barmer,Jalore,Kota,Sirohi and SriGanganagar- received deficit rainfall (20 to 59 per cent below normal) and the rest of the 17 districts are under 'normal' category. Rains also lashed parts of Punjab and Haryana today,bringing the mercury down. The showers lashed Chandigarh,Mohali and Ropar. In Haryana,Hisar,Panchkula and Kalka received good rains. The two states have received near normal rainfall as the monsoon picked up during the last month. Haryana received 161.6 mm rains as against normal of 163.8 mm during the same period,while Punjab recorded 105.1 mm against the normal of 167.2 mm,it said. Chandigarh received 283.3 mm of rain between August 1 and 29 as against a normal of 288.3 during the period,the MeT Department said. Between June-August,the deficiency in Haryana stood at 42 per cent,while it was 55 per cent in Punjab and 21 per cent in Chandigarh.
